tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84243409550224484262024-03-05T20:32:29.347+08:00Non angelus, sed Anglus. Not an angel, but an Englishman. NonAngelusSedAnglushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00670639454774198179noreply@blogger.comBlogger105125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8424340955022448426.post-89089211702491436812018-12-07T06:17:00.000+08:002018-12-07T06:17:10.164+08:00Don't lie to your children about Santa Claus<br />
On 6th December it seems fitting to bring up the subject of whether we should lie to our children about Santa Claus. <br />
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Many Christian parents think that it's perfectly acceptable to tell things to our children that are not true and pretend they are and somehow hope that they will believe us when we speak to them about God and His Church.<br />
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My wife and I have three young children and we made a decision very early on to speak the truth about Santa Claus. This doesn't "ruin the magic of Christmas" - it brings them joy and wonder.<br />
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We do not lie to our children. We tell them the truth about Santa Claus.</div>
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Let's stop telling the lie that Santa Claus isn't real.</div>
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We tell our children that Santa Claus is real, that he loves Jesus and lives with Him in heaven and that we can ask him to pray for and with us all year round. </div>
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Saint Nicholas, pray for us!</div>
<br />NonAngelusSedAnglushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00670639454774198179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8424340955022448426.post-21514224633847698482017-02-14T08:16:00.004+08:002022-02-17T01:10:44.257+08:00Liturgically Correct Non Valentine's Greetings<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">I'm concerned at the number of young people who are rigidly sticking to the older form of the Roman Rite and insisting on celebrating Saint Valentine today rather than Saints Cyril and Methodius. </span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> </span><br />
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">In order to address this rigidity, I encourage you all to join me in writing liturgical correct greetings to your loved ones according to the newer form: </span> <br />
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<span style="color: #454545; font-size: 16px;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Your lips they are red</span></span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="color: #454545; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">Your voice is melodious</span>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">It has to be said</span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">You're my Cyril and Methodius!</span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Your voice it is pure, your heart it is mine</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Not just in Septuagesima, I mean ordinary time. </span></span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">You mean more to me than acorns to a squirrel </span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Will you be my Methodius and Cyril?</span></div>
NonAngelusSedAnglushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00670639454774198179noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8424340955022448426.post-84674314043750278452016-04-28T11:25:00.001+08:002016-04-28T11:25:18.997+08:00Defending the faith in charity<div>My favourite Catholic evangelist is Matt Fradd. I'd listened to a number of his talks about purity and also defending Catholic teachings. </div><div><br></div><div>I like the way he uses humour and personal stories to illustrate his points. It wasn't until recently that I realised that he prefers the Traditional Latin Mass. </div><div><br></div><div>This debate below is a wonderful example of how we can debate with other people in a loving but powerful way. Matt Fradd is speaking with a former Catholic, Baptist Pastor. </div><div><br></div>http://mattfradd.com/my-interview-with-ex-catholic-baptist-pastor/<div><br></div><div>My favourite quotations include:</div><div><br></div><div>"I would call it a deformation not reformation."</div><div><br></div><div>"You were taught using the Baltimore Catechism? Good! I teach my children from the same catechism."</div><div><br></div><div>"There's a lot of misunderstanding about Vatican II ... Latin should have pride of place ... it's not that the priest had his back to the people but was praying with the people."</div>NonAngelusSedAnglushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00670639454774198179noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8424340955022448426.post-61132717070946774752016-02-10T14:16:00.001+08:002016-02-10T14:16:33.905+08:00Lent in the year of mercyIt strikes me that rather than an overly complicated plan for Lent, the most simply way of living this time of preparation for Easter are: fast - be merciful and be joyful. <div><br></div><div>It is good to fast each day - not to give up eating but to considerably reduce this. Be conscious about small acts of denial to self and replace them with prayer. </div><div><br></div><div>Be merciful - especially in the Year of Mercy - let's be more conscious about living the corporate and spiritual works of mercy. How can we be kind to others?</div><div><br></div><div>Be joyful - Lent is a time of looking forward to Easter - a time of self-denial but also a time to look forward in hope. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghHNd5xaSZVOQEhLJSlXTBUVeXTupithLYPivzu1hCowSSd-23mwiFi9PYSUjZaDDxeY3KHgypI9_090HN9YOF0HFkulKtPMqvDJ0iQxsJ3kyIB3MWRZAt3tWvlbK_vApyYl-w85EgaGo/s640/blogger-image--1271270721.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghHNd5xaSZVOQEhLJSlXTBUVeXTupithLYPivzu1hCowSSd-23mwiFi9PYSUjZaDDxeY3KHgypI9_090HN9YOF0HFkulKtPMqvDJ0iQxsJ3kyIB3MWRZAt3tWvlbK_vApyYl-w85EgaGo/s640/blogger-image--1271270721.jpg"></a></div><br></div>NonAngelusSedAnglushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00670639454774198179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8424340955022448426.post-58937288271035064282015-08-22T10:03:00.001+08:002016-04-16T17:28:19.648+08:00The Communion of Saints<div>
I've always been Catholic but rarely any good at it. Acknowledging the faith - giving intellectual assent - comes easy to me but believing in it, that is, actually living it, has often eluded me. </div>
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The Communion of Saints is a good example of something that I've always believed but rarely practised (apart from the rosary and formal prayers to saints).<br />
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I've probably spent more time arguing that it's OK to ask the saints to pray for us than actually doing so. </div>
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This changed in October 2007. I had booked a holiday in Venice in Italy - I was meant to go with someone else but due to circumstances I ended up going alone. This was one of the most difficult periods of my life. </div>
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The beauty of the City captivated me - it gave me a sense of deep lonliness and yet deep joy. I was in the Piazza San Marco, all alone on my birthday and looked ahead to the Basilica of Saint Mark. </div>
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I looked up and felt called to ask Saint Mark to pray for me. I then had a sense of peace and an awareness of what he had suffered to bring the Gospel to others. This gave me courage. </div>
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Later during that trip, visiting the beautiful church named Santa Maria della Salute, I looked up before entering and asked our Mother to pray for me and to give me health. <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">When I walked inside, I prayed asking each of the saints to pray with and for me. Inside I found a painting which I guessed was Saint Mark - I also recognised Saint Sebastian and asked him to pray for me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">I had no idea who the other saints were but asked them to pray for me too. Little did I know that one of them was my patron, Saint Damian*, along with others. </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">I then later walked through streets named after saints and again asked their intercession. </span><br />
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My experience of the Communion of saints at one of the toughest times in my life gave me a great sense of not being alone but part of something bigger than myself. It was an insight into how amazing it is to be Catholic - part of something truly universal - the Church Militant that exists on earth, the Church Suffering in purgatory - those being cleansed for eternity and the Church Triumphant - those saints in heaven itself. </div>
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*St Damian is actually my patron saint's patron saint but I'll take as many prayers as I can get. </div>
NonAngelusSedAnglushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00670639454774198179noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8424340955022448426.post-7725071086943571342015-08-19T08:33:00.000+08:002015-08-19T10:46:21.044+08:0010 things I love about the New Mass<div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 15px; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">The following are some of the things I love about the newer form of the Roman Rite when celebrated with dignity. </span><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 15px; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 15px; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5_xVcP8cN9XRg79hNVOS2RX29OJDJsAKX125vwUG_fLX3QzLZkjIrAIKTUsAHA9viIHY9HdoRP1yXG1A67qL5o6d2LSjyaql2Dg3hfaxWcjtkkLgM7t9S2K3_slo3QMlV8UmlFP7sSrE/s640/blogger-image-2046978757.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5_xVcP8cN9XRg79hNVOS2RX29OJDJsAKX125vwUG_fLX3QzLZkjIrAIKTUsAHA9viIHY9HdoRP1yXG1A67qL5o6d2LSjyaql2Dg3hfaxWcjtkkLgM7t9S2K3_slo3QMlV8UmlFP7sSrE/s640/blogger-image-2046978757.jpg"></a></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 15px; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><br></div>
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1. Worship <b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </b></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The Mass is the unbloody sacrifice of the body and blood of Christ.</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> There can be no higher form of worship. </span> Christ is truly present, body, blood, soul and divinity in the Eucharist. Christ is also present in the priest, in the proclamation of the Word of God and in the people gathered to worship in His name. </div>
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2. Reverence</div>
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The reverence of the priest genuflecting towards the Blessed Sacrament when he passes the tabernacle before and after Mass, after the consecration of the Body and Bloody of Christ and before he receives Holy Communion, the bowing, the silent prayers, the gestures all turn our hearts and minds to the Lord. <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;">The Sanctus bell and incense can also add to the sense of solemnity.</span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 15px; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;"> </span></div>
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3. Silence. </div>
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The silence commanded by the newer form of the Roman Rite include within<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> the Act of Penitence and again after the invitation to pray before the Collect; there should be silence at the conclusion of each reading and homily so that all may meditate briefly on what they have heard; then after Communion, there should be silence so that we may praise and pray to God in our hearts.</span></div>
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4. History continuity. </div>
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The Mass retains some of the gestures, prayers and ritual that the saints would have been familiar with back through the centuries. The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults has restored some ancient liturgical practises such as the dismissal of catechumens etc which have also been retained in eastern liturgies. </div>
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5. Music</div>
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The preferred music at Mass should be Gregorian chant. I find that this music is powerful, easy to sing and unites the congregation in worship. It brings to mind the continuity of the Catholic Faith and reminds us we are not alone. If Gregorian chant is not used then preference should be given to singing the Mass itself either in Latin or a local language rather than to a collection of hymns. </div>
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6. Gestures</div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">When we make the sign of the cross using holy water we are reminded of our baptism, the incarnation, the Trinity and Christ's sacrifice. </span>When we strike ourselves in the confiteor, bow profoundly at the words of the incarnation in the creed; bow at the name of Jesus, Mary or the saint of the day, when we stand for the Gospel and kneel for the Eucharistic Prayer, our whole bodies are involved in worship. </div>
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7. Doctrine</div>
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Every single Catholic teaching is included in the newer form of the Roman rite - our need to worship, confess our sins, praise, give thanks. I love the fact that the modern version of the Confiteor reminds us that we sin in what we fail to do as well as in our thoughts, words and deeds. The Mass should reinforce our belief in the real presence and our understanding of the Communion of the Saints. The newer form of the Roman rite includes prayers for the dead and prayers to protect us from Satan. </div>
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8. The focus of the priest and people. </div>
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The priest and people should all focus on the altar and a crucifix should be nearby. This is more obvious where Mass is celebrated ad orientem as in this photo of Pope Francis but should also be the case when Mass is celebrated facing the people. These all bring us out of ourselves and focus our minds and hearts on God. </div>
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9. Language</div>
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Latin is still the language of the Latin Church and has a beauty and poetry that expresses clearly and succinctly our faith. Local languages are usually used in the newer form of the Roman Rite - but thanks to reforms in recent years, these are now faithful translations. </div>
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10. Unity</div>
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It is unusual for the whole of the Mass to be offered in Latin in the newer form of the Roman Rite but when parts of the Mass are sung in Latin, there's a powerful sense of inclusiveness and unity of spirit with one another. Even if we don't understand the language and cannot take part in the responses due to so many languages being used, we are united in faith. </div>
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NonAngelusSedAnglushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00670639454774198179noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8424340955022448426.post-92015557293030153532015-08-19T08:31:00.002+08:002015-08-19T10:37:59.793+08:0010 things I love about the Latin Mass<span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 15px; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">The following are some of the things I love about the older form of the Roman Rite when celebrated with dignity. </span><div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div>
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1. Worship </div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The Mass is the unbloody sacrifice of the body and blood of Christ.</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> There can be no higher form of worship. Christ is truly present, body, blood, soul and divinity in the Eucharist. Christ is also present in the priest, in the proclamation of the Word of God and in the people gathered to worship in His name. </span></div>
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2. Reverence</div>
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The reverence of the priest including (usually) facing the tabernacle, the bowing, the silent prayers, the gestures all turn our hearts and minds to the Lord. The Sanctus bell and incense can also add to the sense of solemnity. </div>
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3. Silence. </div>
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The silent prayers and in particular the canon (Eucharistic prayer) are powerful aids to prayer and meditation. </div>
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4. History continuity. </div>
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The Mass is ancient and extends back to the time of Christ, who instituted it. Many of the gestures, prayers and ritual of the older form of the Roman Rite would have been familiar with saints back through the centuries. </div>
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5. Music</div>
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A High Mass or Missa Cantata should give preference to Gregorian chant. I find that this music is powerful, easy to sing and unites the congregation in worship. It brings to mind the continuity of the Catholic Faith and how we are not alone. </div>
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6. Gestures</div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">When we make the sign of the cross using holy water we are reminded of our baptism, the incarnation, the Trinity and Christ's sacrifice. </span>When we strike ourselves in the confiteor, kneel in adoration at the words of the incarnation in the creed and Last Gospel, when we stand for the Gospel and kneel for Holy Communion, our whole bodies are involved in worship. </div>
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7. Doctrine</div>
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Every single Catholic teaching is included in the older form of the Roman rite - our need to worship, confess our sins, praise, give thanks. Our belief in the real presence and our understanding of the Communion of the Saints. The older form of the Roman rite includes prayers for the dead and prayers to protect us from Satan. </div>
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8. The focus of the priest and people. </div>
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The priest and people focussing on the altar, the crucifix and and the tabernacle. These all bring us out of ourselves and focus our minds and hearts on God. </div>
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9. Language</div>
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Latin has a beauty and poetry that express clearly and succinctly our faith. It is a language hallowed by almost two thousand years of usage by Catholics and c.1,500 years in a liturgical setting. It is a language that goes back to the time of Christ Himself. </div>
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10. Unity</div>
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The Latin Mass enables people of a variety of languages and cultures to worship together. Living in Hong Kong, I love the fact I can praise God alongside an individual who doesn't speak English. I love the fact that we kneel next to one another to receive Holy Communion rather than individually lining up. </div>
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NonAngelusSedAnglushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00670639454774198179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8424340955022448426.post-13059882534883451352015-08-08T14:30:00.003+08:002015-08-08T14:33:45.158+08:00Confusion and clarity - my first ever Latin Mass<div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">
I was a child growing up in the 1970s but it wasn't until the early 80's that I attended my first Latin Mass, aged 12. </div>
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It was out of curiosity and due to my love of history that led me to attend this Mass - offered according to what is now known as the older form of the Roman Rite. </div>
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Soon after Mass started, I was overwhelmed by the beauty and timeliness of the music. The choir started chanting the Asperges and I was transfixed. My dad showed me his Missal that had the English alongside the Latin and I could sing along with this and understand the meaning of these words. </div>
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After the Asperges, the priest was soon praying the prayers at the foot of the altar but this confused me. Why isn't he facing me? Why pray quietly? Isn't it rude to talk to someone with their back to them and so they can't understand. I was confused and didn't understand why. </div>
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A few moments later I was suddenly struck by an epiphany. The prayers of the Mass aren't addressed to me. They're addressed to God. I realised that prayer is about lifting our hearts and minds (and sometimes voices) to the Father and not just chatting with friends. For the first time in my life, I grasped a reality. God is real. Prayer is real. </div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF-NB3dwt51uQB1TkANCo7_99jgXj6SHgjMqKXToA9vZhfZYUUUPrrW5JeLYFhNuszJZenb1oKehgLpvIJeBLXaK1yGuQCDNajcKe154zEj9oZ8m-F1R6fv24GFTjyJueZCp5cVzZZ6qo/s640/blogger-image-1544768001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF-NB3dwt51uQB1TkANCo7_99jgXj6SHgjMqKXToA9vZhfZYUUUPrrW5JeLYFhNuszJZenb1oKehgLpvIJeBLXaK1yGuQCDNajcKe154zEj9oZ8m-F1R6fv24GFTjyJueZCp5cVzZZ6qo/s640/blogger-image-1544768001.jpg"></a></div></div><div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div>
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I looked at the meaning of the words that the priest and servers were praying and looked again at the altar. The priest was bowing low for the confiteor and this alone struck me that he isn't a celebrity up on a pedestal but someone who himself realises his faults and failings. </div>
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The Kyrie in Greek soon drew me into a sense of my own sinfulness and the Gloria that followed delighted me. It struck me that something is different. Everyone was singing. Unlike most Masses where the choir and a few others would join in and the rest of us looked on in boredom, no one was sitting in silence. </div>
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During the readings, I followed the meanings in a Missal that belonged to my parents and was able to follow these without a problem. </div>
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The singing of the creed transformed something that usually seemed to me a set of words to get through to a powerful experience of celebrating our faith. When everyone fell to their knees at the Incarnatus and later during the last Gospel I was reminded of the centrality of the incarnation with gratitude and wonder. </div>
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The Canon of the Mass prayed in silence was something I wasn't used to. I followed most of it in the Missal but what struck me was the consecration. The moment the priest whispered the words that brings God to the altar, he fell to his knees in adoration - before and after he raised the host and chalice high. </div>
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The experience of receiving Holy Communion on my knees and kneeling alongside other people side by side actually reinforced to me two things: we are receiving Christ - body, bloody, soul and divinity; secondly the communion of the saints - we are part of the Body of Christ - seeing my fellow Catholics either side of me receiving the sacred Host</div>
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In all my attendance at my first Latin Mass gave me a deeper insight into who Christ is, the wonder of the incarnation and the majestic beauty and power of the Eucharist and a reminder that Mass isn't something childish but something that it is ancient, majestic and unites us not only to Christ but to the Communion of Saints - those living and those triumphant in heaven. </div>
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NonAngelusSedAnglushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00670639454774198179noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8424340955022448426.post-23730285036023951342015-08-03T07:49:00.001+08:002015-08-03T07:49:28.064+08:00How to evangelise without annoying people<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The first Papal letter ever recorded commands Catholics to "Always<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect ..." 1 Peter 3:15</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">How then do we evangelise without annoying people?</font></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3pHB3UMn856pUseYzLs1CuQpi3AcW7El72tVQJdioGCGKIVVwKA2ICwA_sfONRE3aT6Ox3MH8tsTGLXaqAvNtRt6bqVAXOnMnvsnlS-i3kZkYyMbe2vvEd_qUHzMkYDB4qwttO-RPMxs/s640/blogger-image--999375500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3pHB3UMn856pUseYzLs1CuQpi3AcW7El72tVQJdioGCGKIVVwKA2ICwA_sfONRE3aT6Ox3MH8tsTGLXaqAvNtRt6bqVAXOnMnvsnlS-i3kZkYyMbe2vvEd_qUHzMkYDB4qwttO-RPMxs/s640/blogger-image--999375500.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">It strikes me that there are a number of small things that we can do which can impact those around us:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">1. Live a life of grace - stay close to the sacraments, frequent weekly Confession and the Eucharist. Seek to be converted as well as to convert. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">2. Pray. Offer each day to God. Ask for opportunities. Pray for each person you meet - by name of the meeting is planned. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">3. Integrate our faith into our daily life when someone asks us what we did at the weekend, how often do we share that we went to Mass? We don't need to have an in depth discussion about transubstantiation but do we share this with joy?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">4. Have authentic friendships - don't be friends purely in order to convert, and don't exclude the possibility of the Holy Spirit using you to bring that person to Christ. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">5. Don't be ashamed of your faith. My wife encourages me to wear or use my rosary in public, to make the sign of the cross in a restaurant before eating and to let people know that I won't eat meat on a Friday. These small signs could spark a thought or discussion that could have eternal consequences. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">6. Be assertive. Stand up for the faith - avoid the traps of either remaining silent when the faith is attacked or to defend it with aggression. Speak the truth calmly but clearly. Truth has a power in itself. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">7. Be <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">a person of forgiveness and reconciliation - these should ensure that we are people of hope and joy. It is hypocritical to be a practising Catholic and to hold grudges or hate others. Pray for those who curse you. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">8. Celebrate saints days and the anniversaries of baptism and confirmation with your family and friends. There are perhaps more important than birthdays. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">9. Know the Bible. The New Testament is the most Catholic of any literature in existence. Ignorance of scripture is ignorance of Christ. If we don't know Him, how can we share?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">10. Social media: how can we integrate our faith into what we share on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc? We can do this in a way that isn't preachy. </span></div>NonAngelusSedAnglushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00670639454774198179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8424340955022448426.post-88472304321155235082015-07-10T06:20:00.001+08:002015-07-10T06:20:46.451+08:00TGIF<div><br></div><div>TGIF. I recently got into the habit of making a small prayer whenever I saw the words TGIF. Thank God it's Friday - the day His Son gave Himself for us. </div><div><br></div><div>This small change - as well as abstaining from meat - had a simple but profound effect on me and is s regular reminder. </div><div><br></div><div>How do you mark Fridays?</div><div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8puJbh0_KFcBMaNZ-cBz6csW4ARStN-q7sAGn_bHR0zwNf7O-faKp2WQg1rl9wB0zm3FcuN7axCAvdYTzi7JrSCqhy3G7MiBGD3IkGoPdlXFghMpGtexqHh1QJP_qICfCkjVKyiJt8ko/s640/blogger-image--315230691.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8puJbh0_KFcBMaNZ-cBz6csW4ARStN-q7sAGn_bHR0zwNf7O-faKp2WQg1rl9wB0zm3FcuN7axCAvdYTzi7JrSCqhy3G7MiBGD3IkGoPdlXFghMpGtexqHh1QJP_qICfCkjVKyiJt8ko/s640/blogger-image--315230691.jpg"></a></div>NonAngelusSedAnglushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00670639454774198179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8424340955022448426.post-26814954188732341172015-07-05T18:55:00.001+08:002015-07-05T18:55:17.642+08:00Ten Commandments for Social Media<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">For the original, see Deuteronomy 5:7-21</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1zKljWeV-B3Zb4l16IAE6PCs4496RjDWGohU_JIaPpYwobQunOxIRdTxcV9LlDi8rLNjGk8lJ54VF-Wg7YZ4A4DnbJaxwXPH43sZoN7yAkxC9630CojAK-lKaUBXL5JzBiOXy3XhIW28/s640/blogger-image--112089937.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1zKljWeV-B3Zb4l16IAE6PCs4496RjDWGohU_JIaPpYwobQunOxIRdTxcV9LlDi8rLNjGk8lJ54VF-Wg7YZ4A4DnbJaxwXPH43sZoN7yAkxC9630CojAK-lKaUBXL5JzBiOXy3XhIW28/s640/blogger-image--112089937.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">1. You shall have no other gods.</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">You shall not like or follow astrology on Facebook or twitter, you shall not read, like or share pagan, New Age or fortune telling links. You shall unfriend - or at least unfollow, Facebook and Instagram or twitter friends who share such sites. </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">2. You shall not use the name of God in vain</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">You shall not use His name unless in prayer or explaining the Faith or honouring Him. You shall not use the acronym "OMG" unless in prayer; you shall not like or share any article, song or meme where anyone used the name of Our Lord in a flippant way. </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">3. Honour the sabbath day</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">Make Mass your priority on holy days. Make sure you give yourself time to rest, pray and worship. Do not spend more time on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram than in worship or with your family. You shall not check social media when at Mass. You shall prepare for Mass in prayer on your knees adoring God and not updating your status online. You shall turn off your phone when you enter a Church or when setting time aside for prayer. </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">4. Honour your father and mother</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">Do not vent about your parents on social media; do not speak disrespectfully about your mother, The Church on any social media; use social media to increase glory for your mother the Church and your brothers and sisters, your fellow believers in how you behave online. </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">5. You shall not murder</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">You shall not undermine the sanctity of life by supporting pro-abortion politicians, charities or political parties either directly or indirectly; you shall not use anti-life expressions such as "pro-choice" or "potential human life". You shall not murder another's reputation by slander, gossip or calumny. You shall not detract from them by sharing another's sins or failings. You shall not read or share blog posts that attack other people rather than ideas. You shall remember that each person you interact with online is a person loved by God for whom Christ died. You should use your writings to encourage rather than destroy. </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">6. You shall not commit adultery</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">You shall not flirt with another person online to whom you're not married; you shall not initiate conversations with another person that you wouldn't want your spouse to read. You shall block on social media any person with whom you are tempted to sin with or with whom you have had an impure relationship with. It is better for you to get to heaven with less Facebook friends than to suffer in Hell for all eternity. </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">7. You shall not give false testimony. </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">You shall defend the Faith in its entirety when under attack or when others undermine its Truth. You shall not like or share posts, memes or links that aren't true. You shall not read blogs that make you angry without reason about The Pope, clergy or any other person based on hearsay. You shall not share articles if they're full of hatred or anger towards another person rather than dealing with issues. </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">8. <span style="line-height: 19.5pt;">You shall not steal. </span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="line-height: 19.5pt;"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="line-height: 19.5pt;">You shall not copy and paste other people's writings and pass them off as your own. </span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="line-height: 19.5pt;"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="line-height: 19.5pt;">9. You shall not covet your neighbour's wife</span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="line-height: 19.5pt;"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="line-height: 19.5pt;">You should be happy when people share statuses and updates about how much they love their spouse. You should not be jealous of their relationship but pray for and support them. </span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="line-height: 19.5pt;"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="line-height: 19.5pt;">10. You shall not covet </span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="line-height: 19.5pt;"><br></span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="line-height: 19.5pt;">You shall not covet your neighbour's house that he regularly shares photos of in Instagram, </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">nor their Oxbridge education nor their new </span><span style="line-height: 19.5pt;">Aston Martin or anything that is your Facebook friend's. </span></div><div><span style="line-height: 19.5pt;"><br></span></div></div>NonAngelusSedAnglushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00670639454774198179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8424340955022448426.post-54620214633315869402015-05-04T12:47:00.001+08:002015-05-04T12:48:55.855+08:00Why Catholics should all become evangelicals<div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">The purpose of the Church is to evangelise. We do not exist to make each other feel nice, have a hug on Sunday morning or to dress up on Sundays and and make polite conversation. </span></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji1xAqMvewG44sQ3Gy1cCePcgtj7NIwUayCwv0540lshOTdxZWoSDNJqdJ2E9WD44D39WKeav6WALfoOGX41wx9LFtIRkTY-JfXCB_gqaPyQZ4R1PzzcsENATPvEeymIs5KX2hRmDw7mc/s640/blogger-image-743497879.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji1xAqMvewG44sQ3Gy1cCePcgtj7NIwUayCwv0540lshOTdxZWoSDNJqdJ2E9WD44D39WKeav6WALfoOGX41wx9LFtIRkTY-JfXCB_gqaPyQZ4R1PzzcsENATPvEeymIs5KX2hRmDw7mc/s640/blogger-image-743497879.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The boxer, Manny Pacquaio from the Philippines tells the story of how he deepened his commitment to Jesus Christ and how his life was transformed. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">He used to lie, cheat and get drunk and he now loves Jesus and puts Him first. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Unfortunately, Manny didn't seem to hear the message of salvation at his Catholic Church but from a Protestant pastor. I would not like to judge the parish he used to attend, but did the priest or fellow parishioners challenge him about his lifestyle? Did they preach about the four last things? Did he ever hear a sermon about death, judgement, heaven and Hell?</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Sadly, all too often the saving Gospel of Christ is reduced to meaningless niceties: "You're not ok, that's ok." "Everyone come up to Communion in rows and have the special bread." "We don't talk about the devil or confession or salvation anymore."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The Church exists for salvation and outside of Christ and His Church there is no salvation. There is a Heaven, there is a Hell. Unless we all become evangelicals - in the proper sense of the word - then our churches will be emptied and should lost. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">It would be wonderful if all of us - very much myself included - could witness to the saving power of Jesus Christ in our families, our workplaces and yes, our churches so that when Catholics hear that Jesus Christ died and rose again to save them from sin and death, it won't come as a surprise. </div>NonAngelusSedAnglushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00670639454774198179noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8424340955022448426.post-8894700112455914542015-04-01T07:47:00.001+08:002015-04-01T14:59:50.780+08:00German Bishops' Conference: let's scrap the tax and start proclaiming
the faith!<div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">In a remarkable about turn, Cardinal Marx, President of the German Bishops' Conference will release a statement on the morning of April 1st declaring his support for an end to the infamous Church tax so that they might concentrate on teaching the Gospel.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeVSwKNsldwOQ2yKPVK1ijB8UPBwSan1LH_v4NMFU6ujfQiUfmZ1WRVJRBgwYoMdJItRuwiD8WoRKXsyxmSt4lyhhMmAUmGBIKcJI1lSngryhkKGQM7LvUarEZCQlMbFp-Q5YMxJcM-lI/s640/blogger-image--1899949508.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeVSwKNsldwOQ2yKPVK1ijB8UPBwSan1LH_v4NMFU6ujfQiUfmZ1WRVJRBgwYoMdJItRuwiD8WoRKXsyxmSt4lyhhMmAUmGBIKcJI1lSngryhkKGQM7LvUarEZCQlMbFp-Q5YMxJcM-lI/s640/blogger-image--1899949508.jpg"></a></div><div><br></div>Cardinal Marx will state at a press conference, "For far too long the German church has been more focussed on money rather than the faith. In the spirit of Pope Francis' call for a poorer church we will now ask for an end to the church tax which has driven people away from the pews. Our focus will now be evangelisation, including teaching the truth about marriage and the family - something we have failed to do in recent years."</div><div><br></div><div>Pope Francis has not yet commented although has a packed schedule on the same day as shall offering an older form Pontifical Mass with the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate and asking their forgiveness for all the persecution they suffered over the last two years. </div>NonAngelusSedAnglushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00670639454774198179noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8424340955022448426.post-58431886506339960072015-03-25T12:14:00.001+08:002015-03-25T12:15:03.410+08:00Et incarnatus est<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Today we celebrate the Annunciation, where Mary's yes to God as communicated to the Archangel Gabriel was the turning point in human history. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The Annunciation is where it all began. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKi1elwDIveibIcc80lj1lF0uF4gegaCwUORYVKOPZFQO6GXBbzWYEd7roueGOrvwuSRgQXWKZIs-MPYJVbXWwziQiQ5aTVvpfwW3PhqIEyNPUjWAnePexzP0ChjXjLdHHB0f6bB_8Mvw/s640/blogger-image--1828643835.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKi1elwDIveibIcc80lj1lF0uF4gegaCwUORYVKOPZFQO6GXBbzWYEd7roueGOrvwuSRgQXWKZIs-MPYJVbXWwziQiQ5aTVvpfwW3PhqIEyNPUjWAnePexzP0ChjXjLdHHB0f6bB_8Mvw/s640/blogger-image--1828643835.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The incarnation is so great a mystery that we fall to our knees at the word in the creed at Mass and yet a lifetime of contemplating its mysteries would never suffice. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Our Faith is not just spiritual but also physical. In His becoming human in Our Lady's womb, Our Lord opens up salvation for all who believe and follow Him. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">As Mary accepted Christ in her womb, may we accept Him in our hearts, our souls - and bodies too - as we invite Him in both spiritual and actual Communion. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Every day is a chance to recommit to Christ, but what better opportunity than today?</div>NonAngelusSedAnglushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00670639454774198179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8424340955022448426.post-55683822882370113462015-02-08T12:14:00.001+08:002015-02-08T12:14:49.124+08:00Jesus, Mary and JosephWe named our son Joseph because we want him to love Jesus and Mary. This morning I took my 15 month son to Mass and we did our usual ritual of saying a Hail Mary at Our Lady's statue, praying briefly in front of the Blessed Sacrament and doing a toddler version of the Stations of the Cross where he points and I tell him, "Jesus loves you."<div><br></div><div>It's both a privilege and an honour to raise a child as a Catholic Christian but hoping that these little rituals help to give him hints of the Faith at an early age. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsX9u4GBTNqE3CisBDoLP4EMrvNqQ19o4c98zkhNwJIg013R-DbjHsz2yxR4q3raIJaY1yuzi9Sp-KGu6X4ckaNtM_Ur-irmUtJi_9OthsF2XqzqwljVBEK6Z0m5dT-7tSe6mmUcy3YY4/s640/blogger-image--32361688.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsX9u4GBTNqE3CisBDoLP4EMrvNqQ19o4c98zkhNwJIg013R-DbjHsz2yxR4q3raIJaY1yuzi9Sp-KGu6X4ckaNtM_Ur-irmUtJi_9OthsF2XqzqwljVBEK6Z0m5dT-7tSe6mmUcy3YY4/s640/blogger-image--32361688.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">On the way to Mass we passed an evangelical church and he points at the cross and said "Jesus". Each time he sees a cross, I tell him that Jesus loves him. Of course he won't understand the concept of sin and redemption at an early age but why not share the good news in any case?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">My proudest moments this morning though were when he dipped his hand in the holy water and touched his forehead (has to start somewhere) and when I held him as we knelt down for the Eucharistic Prayer and he actually genuflected!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">As Christians we are commanded to evangelise. The family is a good place to start. </div><br></div>NonAngelusSedAnglushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00670639454774198179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8424340955022448426.post-22379705044261661672014-12-31T19:42:00.001+08:002014-12-31T19:46:00.000+08:00Te Deum LaudamusPray the Te Deum today for an indulgence available on the last day of the year. <div><br></div><div>The end of 2014 is a good time to remember all that God has done - let us give thanks for everything - joys, sorrows and challenges:</div><div><br></div><div><p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: italic;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">You are God: we praise you;</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: italic;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">You are the Lord: we acclaim you;</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: italic;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">You are the eternal Father:</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: italic;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">All creation worships you.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: italic;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">To you all angels, all the powers of heaven,</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: italic;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Cherubim and Seraphim, sing in endless praise:</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: italic;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Holy, holy, holy, Lord, God of</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: italic;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">power and might,</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: italic;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">heaven and earth are full of your glory.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: italic;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The glorious company of apostles praise you.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: italic;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The noble fellowship of prophets praise you.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: italic;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The white-robed army of martyrs praise you.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: italic;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Throughout the world the holy Church</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: italic;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">acclaims you:</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: italic;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Father, of majesty unbounded,</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: italic;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">your true and only Son, worthy</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: italic;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">of all worship,</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: italic;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">and the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: italic;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">You, Christ, are the king of glory,</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: italic;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">the eternal Son of the Father.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: italic;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">When you became man to set us free</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: italic;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">you did not spurn the Virgin’s womb.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: italic;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">You overcame the sting of death,</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: italic;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">and opened the kingdom of heaven</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: italic;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">to all believers.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: italic;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">You are seated at God’s right hand in glory.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: italic;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We believe that you will come, and</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: italic;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">be our judge.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: italic;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Come then, Lord, and help your people,</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: italic;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">bought with the price of your own blood,</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: italic;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">and bring us with your saints</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: italic;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">to glory everlasting.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: italic;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Save your people, Lord, and bless</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: italic;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">your inheritance.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: italic;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Govern and uphold them now and always.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: italic;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Day by day we bless you.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: italic;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We praise your name for ever.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: italic;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Keep us today, Lord, from all sin.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: italic;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: italic;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Lord, show us your love and mercy;</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: italic;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">for we put our trust in you.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: italic;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In you, Lord, is our hope:</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: italic;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">and we shall never hope in vain.</span></p></div>NonAngelusSedAnglushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00670639454774198179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8424340955022448426.post-79429741224020291152014-12-25T21:02:00.001+08:002014-12-25T21:02:56.023+08:00Merry Christmas<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I'd like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas as we celebrate with joy the birth of our Saviour. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Of course we recall that some of our friends don't celebrate Christmas and so we have to be culturally sensitive.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMUgSoxCbnVkT5H1mg_OtgJRPJJ9rrK8kPLwYQxaq8pLlLXUWMgdtw0ZJ8DnfKHWl1QX-VGXPY094mX3gZzil3Ld2t4tccmTWl7BLz5iVoj3PTcBbupUo8_AA7Wft6AC7Mr8wdK-wOVVE/s640/blogger-image-1197349847.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMUgSoxCbnVkT5H1mg_OtgJRPJJ9rrK8kPLwYQxaq8pLlLXUWMgdtw0ZJ8DnfKHWl1QX-VGXPY094mX3gZzil3Ld2t4tccmTWl7BLz5iVoj3PTcBbupUo8_AA7Wft6AC7Mr8wdK-wOVVE/s640/blogger-image-1197349847.jpg"></a></div>NonAngelusSedAnglushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00670639454774198179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8424340955022448426.post-33884005903462923482014-11-30T20:44:00.001+08:002014-11-30T20:44:45.213+08:00An Advent Challenge<div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">What can I do to prepare myself to receive Christ this Christmas?</span></div><div><div><br></div><div>Advent often seems to disappear into a few weeks of alcoholic excesses with office "Christmas" parties weeks before the season begins and so what can I do differently this year?</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGxPOvRe9OWRIbbxXmJJIeTUom0tez34mg-V0wCm0t3oobV2JCN077eyv_mbhIgFsimobmoDC7nBTyzdNHul7BOrHF8DefaS0Ee7pc8j9aInqLd8qpvh5S0QB0h5_SPTxb43CXxt6l7hY/s640/blogger-image--883547481.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGxPOvRe9OWRIbbxXmJJIeTUom0tez34mg-V0wCm0t3oobV2JCN077eyv_mbhIgFsimobmoDC7nBTyzdNHul7BOrHF8DefaS0Ee7pc8j9aInqLd8qpvh5S0QB0h5_SPTxb43CXxt6l7hY/s640/blogger-image--883547481.jpg"></a></div><br></div></div><div>Over the next 25 days I shall make a resolution to chose at least one person a day who needs encouraging and reach out to them. It could be a stranger, colleague, friend - but a new person each day. </div><div><br></div><div>By Christmas, this should be firmly ingrained as a habit. What greater gift can I give to Him who gives Himself to us?</div>NonAngelusSedAnglushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00670639454774198179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8424340955022448426.post-47114383635553435392014-11-30T19:36:00.001+08:002014-11-30T19:36:15.993+08:00Waiting<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKJ1HnG-S_0FDbpbOez01lc36bYtVi6roIGXYSV8HEZPSiw4zxFczoEMHDsfwdbh7S0l0ZkY2fLW8AwXLhAupKRFJNnomhhRIMjr4JQi7Oao3V5eg183FRzvt6rTGBoq93bCjIYWuixLk/s640/blogger-image-246791554.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKJ1HnG-S_0FDbpbOez01lc36bYtVi6roIGXYSV8HEZPSiw4zxFczoEMHDsfwdbh7S0l0ZkY2fLW8AwXLhAupKRFJNnomhhRIMjr4JQi7Oao3V5eg183FRzvt6rTGBoq93bCjIYWuixLk/s640/blogger-image-246791554.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-family: Helvetica;">Advent reminds me that God became a single cell, an embryo, a foetus and a newborn child. All human life is sacred from the moment of conception and God wants to be involved with us in our humanity.</p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 15px;"><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-family: Helvetica;">Our faith is more than a call to be spiritual but a reminder that we must be authentic human beings reaching out to one another in love.</p></div>NonAngelusSedAnglushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00670639454774198179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8424340955022448426.post-43225891982907493602014-11-21T08:46:00.001+08:002014-11-21T08:46:54.298+08:00Speaking of grace with BaptistsI was asked recently to speak at a lunch in Hong Kong - a Baptist evangelical outreach to non Christians and those who need encouragement in their faith. <div><br></div><div>As the time of my talk approached I felt a little nervous. Did they know I'm Catholic? Would I be booed off the stage or would there be awkward questions as to whether I would renounce propery and accept salvation?</div><div><br></div><div>My fears were unfounded. I began by asking prayers of all present and I didn't hide the fact I'm Catholic - quoting heroes from Saint Jerome to others who in more recent years inspired me such as Fr Hilary Carter, an Assumptionist priest in the parish I grew up in and Fr Allen Morris who was my tutor in seminary at Allen Hall. </div><div><br></div><div>It shouldn't amaze me but we asked the Holy Spirit to come and He did. I had baptists telling me that they had experienced and encountered grace in a powerful way and me, a Catholic, felt a little ashamed at by fears beforehand. </div><div><br></div><div>False ecumenism is sometimes about ignoring truth but true unity has to be based on truth and witness combined with love. Every story I shared was summarised by biblical quotations to emphasise the points made. </div><div><br></div><div>My main focus of my talk was to share what the bible teaches us about grace and then to invite people to allow their lives to be transformed by grace. As always when I'm asked to speak to a Christian group, the main person I'm speaking to is myself. </div>NonAngelusSedAnglushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00670639454774198179noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8424340955022448426.post-77928884212079916152014-08-28T22:11:00.001+08:002014-08-28T22:11:20.658+08:00"Late have I loved You."<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Happy Feast of Saint Augustine</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhefzSKCaKM2JGTgJ0aJJve3C7762QK7odBvYYvwlFTyBwANxBoGlfsAEeuWRKaebOYptMkFhFzPX8SNt1e-2wdqkqvPMfataXsn9_pVFpxg5uH-vphUSbezNsGyGkWvlAWIICJ4-Y2jTc/s640/blogger-image--1718304019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhefzSKCaKM2JGTgJ0aJJve3C7762QK7odBvYYvwlFTyBwANxBoGlfsAEeuWRKaebOYptMkFhFzPX8SNt1e-2wdqkqvPMfataXsn9_pVFpxg5uH-vphUSbezNsGyGkWvlAWIICJ4-Y2jTc/s640/blogger-image--1718304019.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"Late have I loved you, O Beauty ever ancient, ever new, late have I loved you! You were within me, but I was outside, and it was there that I searched for you. In my unloveliness I plunged into the lovely things which you created. You were with me, but I was not with you. Created things kept me from you; yet if they had not been in you they would not have been at all. You called, you shouted, and you broke through my deafness. You flashed, you shone, and you dispelled my blindness. You breathed your fragrance on me; I drew in breath and now I pant for you. I have tasted you, now I hunger and thirst for more. You touched me, and I burned for your peace."</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">- The Confessions of St Augustine</span></div>NonAngelusSedAnglushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00670639454774198179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8424340955022448426.post-85539682959329167382014-07-25T08:14:00.001+08:002014-07-25T08:14:07.885+08:00The Godfathers of hypocrisy<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Pope Francis recently said that those who support organised crime have effectively excommunicated themselves - he has also said that the attacks on organised crime will continue relentlessly. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_hvCFDBhW-5pPQZVAPVdAfH2EaoU2zLH_Um8LI3-3BAqr5ClNDcHQOrwjGwq4_qBxU54oINmEM0vtX9mKKQPzk8ozVOLHPpX3oCEaD6tVEk7MEm9G9SMOsAJ_3v5mqXjvxQj1g-jWBuQ/s640/blogger-image--414826195.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_hvCFDBhW-5pPQZVAPVdAfH2EaoU2zLH_Um8LI3-3BAqr5ClNDcHQOrwjGwq4_qBxU54oINmEM0vtX9mKKQPzk8ozVOLHPpX3oCEaD6tVEk7MEm9G9SMOsAJ_3v5mqXjvxQj1g-jWBuQ/s640/blogger-image--414826195.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The Godfather trilogy is perhaps one of my favourite set of films and exposed the hypocrisy of leading politicians, officials and entertainers allying themselves with cold blooded murderers. Throughout the film the evils of organised crime, abortion and terrorism are interspersed with religious imagery, culminating perhaps with Michael Corleone receiving a Papal knighthood from a sick and dying Pope Paul VI. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM1egjZbnM5YjKY72wby5Keg3Gqkyx3N1XKEtZt_ljr6GDCd6pS_OQ-HMKgRoAQNFVAD0wMtzxUBQTmwa8-lTD-4pcOtGKso_dTI97DB06QXJlFk3_d3mYNYmynwzFO0XhQbLlQAO_bWc/s640/blogger-image--1671514444.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM1egjZbnM5YjKY72wby5Keg3Gqkyx3N1XKEtZt_ljr6GDCd6pS_OQ-HMKgRoAQNFVAD0wMtzxUBQTmwa8-lTD-4pcOtGKso_dTI97DB06QXJlFk3_d3mYNYmynwzFO0XhQbLlQAO_bWc/s640/blogger-image--1671514444.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>Sadly the truth is that the Church had all too often allied itself with powerful enemies of human life. When Senator Ted Kennedy died, this lifelong enemy of unborn children - but a powerful and wealthy man - was not only allowed a public funeral Mass but it was televised and "graced" with the presence of a Cardinal of the Church. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNRZuWYOsBCvvOjsheNA5pbFXkPThp19tQEvotCUSRBiE79WTG6ulVazU59jS7dVfR80b8rNvS7LVx3pe_aUcH0Ey21dAx4Xv-omnIVjgwx3UzgeWijCnzgck3SCQGXI5yx-lpQq7fBnc/s640/blogger-image-2046967113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNRZuWYOsBCvvOjsheNA5pbFXkPThp19tQEvotCUSRBiE79WTG6ulVazU59jS7dVfR80b8rNvS7LVx3pe_aUcH0Ey21dAx4Xv-omnIVjgwx3UzgeWijCnzgck3SCQGXI5yx-lpQq7fBnc/s640/blogger-image-2046967113.jpg"></a></div>Gerry Adams and the murderous IRA would always identify themselves as Catholics - and would have an election time photo opportunity going to receive communion - and gullible people would vote for its political wing, Sinn Fein, who relentlessly supported terrorism, gangster activities and abortion. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">As Catholics we cannot judge the souls of other people but surely the Church needs to stand up to those who - in a public forum - undermine the right to life of the unborn. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Who'd support me in starting a petition to the Pope asking for a formal excommunication for all who publically and unrepentantly support murderous organised crime, abortion and terrorism?</div>NonAngelusSedAnglushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00670639454774198179noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8424340955022448426.post-26505904638885415212014-05-10T21:07:00.001+08:002014-05-10T21:07:25.441+08:00St Damien of Molokai - pray for usPlease say a prayer for me and my son on my feast day and his secondary feast day. <div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiowRzsx0VCy6drHpMwd0QXW5IKSVJ55pjObXYe7OzRxOZP19mLHsts1vrdQ3Jb18ShBlZyamS3Ljx3saQgaIOJ3KKFrUuYDoaoZq56fO1OFyYHHRCaMCPY91I_yJ7Y_9WBWEI2Sic0aI/s640/blogger-image-78312251.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiowRzsx0VCy6drHpMwd0QXW5IKSVJ55pjObXYe7OzRxOZP19mLHsts1vrdQ3Jb18ShBlZyamS3Ljx3saQgaIOJ3KKFrUuYDoaoZq56fO1OFyYHHRCaMCPY91I_yJ7Y_9WBWEI2Sic0aI/s640/blogger-image-78312251.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>May his prayers and example encourage all of us to reach out to those who are forgotten and rejected bringing the light of Christ and His Church. </div><div><br></div><div>St Damien of Molokai pray for us!</div>NonAngelusSedAnglushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00670639454774198179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8424340955022448426.post-81181287142732905682014-05-10T20:13:00.001+08:002014-05-10T20:58:01.690+08:00Pope Paul VI to be beatified.<div><br></div>Following the approval of a miracle the beatification of Pope Paul VI is set to take place on October 19th this year. <div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtUGxSL9xVRVM29DIwBoGLpCY93wdD2T2WhkvLnJwkVJ-dtk9DEuEacYVZyt8RQjgvRsSWhz0hBlEPNtbrJeLF1nlzsUwcMtJ9LBnLWNrGWeA6Wpy6SXtXX-YU47iRhSK7fPtZ7rxAdok/s640/blogger-image-920187211.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtUGxSL9xVRVM29DIwBoGLpCY93wdD2T2WhkvLnJwkVJ-dtk9DEuEacYVZyt8RQjgvRsSWhz0hBlEPNtbrJeLF1nlzsUwcMtJ9LBnLWNrGWeA6Wpy6SXtXX-YU47iRhSK7fPtZ7rxAdok/s640/blogger-image-920187211.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>The Pope who presided over the lifting of the excommunications of the Greek Orthodox and the releasing of the prophetic Encyclical, Humanae Vitae is therefore set on the course of canonisation. </div><div><br></div><div>Perhaps the soon to be Blessed Paul VI could pray for an end to the widespread liturgical abuses of the 1970s and for a reversal in the falling away of Mass attendance and disbelief in the blessed Sacrament that followed. <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> </span></div>NonAngelusSedAnglushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00670639454774198179noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8424340955022448426.post-16105279242521223682014-05-04T23:20:00.001+08:002014-05-04T23:20:35.741+08:00English martyrs, pray for us!The martyrs of England and Wales, whose feast is celebrated today, 4th May, remind us that we cannot be syncretists. As Catholics we do not believe that every spiritual path leads to God but that the way to God isn't by a variety of routes but by one Person and the Church He founded. <div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4jXXTAInvAWw5r6axRniFU5iZLhJ5zezaCRMMppoiDk55YZDz1LEeAs2mgadku1GL5NdvHz6169fXwbQU3eI7xd00A0Ofuy5O4OqOR7F_9hIp4APzh5CFcFSqd9NvverdDkjwTajNQCk/s640/blogger-image-439901255.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4jXXTAInvAWw5r6axRniFU5iZLhJ5zezaCRMMppoiDk55YZDz1LEeAs2mgadku1GL5NdvHz6169fXwbQU3eI7xd00A0Ofuy5O4OqOR7F_9hIp4APzh5CFcFSqd9NvverdDkjwTajNQCk/s640/blogger-image-439901255.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>The millions of Catholics who gave their lives for Christ, from Saint Stephen as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles, the martyrs of the Deformation era right up to the Jesuit priest, Fr Frans Van der Lugt killed in Syria a few weeks back were willing to witness to the Truth. </div><div><br></div><div>May we be inspired by the words, lives and ultimate sacrifice of these martyrs and be prepared to remain steadfast and loyal to Christ and His Church. </div>NonAngelusSedAnglushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00670639454774198179noreply@blogger.com1